Genetic Variability, Character Association and Heterosis Studies in Intraspecific F₁ Hybrids and Open-Pollinated Progenies of Moringa oleifera for Seed Germination, Seedling Growth and Nutritional Characteristics

The present study aimed to assess intraspecific F₁ hybrids along with the open-pollinated progenies of Moringa oleifera for seed germination (%), seedling growth and nutritional characteristics at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 2021-22. Significant variations were noted among hybrids and open-pollinated progenies for the studied parameters. First and last germination traits were found to be highly influenced by the environment and others are highly heritable traits for which we can select the hybrids for further evaluation. The majority of nursery and seedling traits had a positive significant correlation, and nutritional and physiological traits had a negative significant correlation. However, some have a significant negative correlation with total carotenoids. Two out of 22 components showed an Eigenvalue greater than unity and elucidated a significant amount of variation, i.e., approximately. 100% of the total variation existed among the hybrids and progenies. Only two hybrid progenies, i.e., PKM-1 × Bhagya (H₁) and PKM-1× PKM-2 (H₂), had the maximum heterosis for the majority of traits. Hybrid H₁ exhibited maximum magnitude of heterosis for seedling height (cm), leaf width (cm), and chlorophyll content (mg/g FW), carbohydrates (g/100 g DM), crude protein (g/100 g DM) and crude fibre (g/100 g DM). Hybrid H₂ exhibited maximum magnitude of heterosis for seedling height, collar diameter, chlorophyll content, crude protein, crude fibre and crude fat. Thus, only two hybrid progenies of crosses H₁ and H₂ showed higher economic heterosis for a majority of traits.